Sorting

Political sorting is a defined as voters selecting a candidate or a party based on which party or candidate more closely agrees with their own ideology. This for example, could help explain why southern voters, who historically voted democratic, began to vote republican when that party began to become more in tune with conservative ideals and values. This could also help explain the emergence of independent or moderate voters. Voters who dont blindly follow a certain party, rather they select a candidate by determining how many of their issues (such as gun rights, gay marriage) their candidate supports.